Camp 14th of N C Troops
March 1st 62
Dear father & mother
I seat myself to write you
a lines in answer to yours
we received yesterday we also
received one from Jane
when capt Gudger came
we are both in good health
except sore arms the health
of all our company that
is here is very good except
a great many of our company
has very sore arms from
vaccination I am sorrow
to tell you that J R Pittillo [1]
was sent to the hospital
a few days ago he was very
sick had the pneumonia
fever he was sent to richmond
[page 2]
I suppose as to war news
I know but little it is
thought we will have an
other fight here soon I
would not be surprised
if we have hot work
here soon provided we
have good weather the
weather is very unpleasant
it snows evry few days
the ground is covered with
snow now some yankee cavalry
crossed the river about fifteen
miles above here our men drove
them back I do not know
the loss on either side
I understand that gen D H Hill
is going to drive the Yankees
out of N Caroline if the
Yankees run against old D H
[page 3]
they will find him
a ruff customer if he under
takes anything he will go
through with it or loose
the last man he has
I hope he may be
successful in his under
takings I received a letter
from John some two or three
weeks ago but I suppose
you have heard from home
since I have so nothing
more I remain your son

J.. E.. Patton